Horse Frontier

Beautiful spring day today!  I love when the sun wakes you in the morning!  The day just seems so much better for it.  And so much more productive than dragging yourself around in the gloom!  I think I should move to a sunnier climate in the winter.  Today I am going Western on you:

I got a new stamp set a couple of weeks ago, called Horse Frontier, and I wanted to try it out for my Beginner's class.  We were covering Heat Embossing, hence the shiny silver horseshoe in front.  I actually inked up the horse stamp using Stampin' Write markers in Early Espresso, Crumb Cake and Old Olive but after I decided to heat emboss the horse image as well in Silver embossing powder.  Both versions looked great, but I liked this one just a tad better.  Parker's Patterns DSP is perfect for this Western look, with it's Southwest designs making it look like a horse blanket.  And the Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon was also made for this card.  I have to apologize for the retired Ribbon Slide from the Holiday Mini catalogue.  I rarely use the retired products, but there was nothing else that worked the way this did.

The Woodgrain embossing folder created the proper rustic background for this masculine card.  Happy Trails!

I wanted to remind you about the Big Shot Club that I have started.  I am looking for 6 people who want a Big Shot!  To get one without breaking the bank all at once, the 6 people will start a Big Shot Club, where they commit to contributing $25.25 a month for 6 months.  Each month, one of the members will get their Big Shot until, at the end of the 6 months, everyone will have it.  The first ones to join will be the first to get their Big Shot and your month will be assigned by the order you sign up, so be one of the first in order to get yours soon!  I can't start the club until I have all 6 people, but if more of you show an interest, I will start another club.  You don't have to be local, just as long as you live in Canada!

It doesn't necessarily mean another class to attend.  We can just agree to send our cheques by the same date each month, but I am happy to get together as a group as well to learn more Big Shot Techniques and How Tos or to mail a tutorial once a month for non-local folks.  Phone or email me soon to let me know you're interested and include your contact info.  Here's a link for more information:  Big Shot Club

Stamps:  Horse Frontier (w126345; c126347)
Paper: Early Espresso (119686), Not Quite Navy (101722), Cajun Craze (119684) and Very Vanilla (101650) Card Stock; Parker's Patterns DSP (131021)
Ink:  VersaMark (102283); Stampin' Write Markers in Early Espresso (119680), Crumb Cake (120967) and Old Olive (100079)
Accessories:  Stampin' Emboss Powder in Silver (109131); Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon (129287); Ribbon Slides (retired)
Tools:  Woodgrain embossing folder (127821); Heat Gun (129053); 1" Circle Punch (119868); 1 3/8" Circle Punch (119860); Big Shot (113439)                                                                                                                                    

 

Horse Frontier Stamp Set

Big Shot Die Cut Machine

Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon

VersaMark Ink

Stampin' Up Heat Tool

It's Almost Midnight! Don't Let Your Paper Pumpkin Disappear!

Just a quick post today with a masculine birthday card for you, also one I pinned on Pinterest!  The little pocket is sized to hold a gift card or a sentiment.  I used DSP from the Storytime collection, a couple of brads and a couple of red buttons.  I created the template for the collar and the pocket myself.

It was pinned from a site called Holiday Crafts and Creations, but I'm not sure who the designer is!

I did another version in DSP from Parker's Patterns.

But it is kind of pyjama-looking to me.  What do you think?

If you want to get in on the first month's mailing of My Paper Pumpkin, you need to let me know before Sunday, which is the deadline.  I am so excited to get started with this, and to design some alternate projects you can create with the materials in each kit!  Here's the link to register.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (w115370; c127802)
Paper:  Pool Party (122924) and Soft Suede (115318) card stock; Storytime DSP (126907); Parker's Patterns DSP (131021)
Ink: Classic Stampin' Pad in Riding Hood Red (126968)
Accessories:  3/16" Metallic Brads (119741), Brights Designer Buttons (119747); Naturals Designer Buttons (127554)

Fabric Floral Fun

So this week, my Technique Classes are all about fabric!  And it's been a steep learning curve for me, because I haven't used fabric (except for ribbon) a whole lot!  But the learning was SO much fun and something different to try out.  This was my first project!

  ( I am entering this card in two challenges, The Paper Players Challenge #135 to use sewing in my card, and Dynamic Duos Challenge #42 in Garden Green and Daffodil Delight.  There was no fabric available in Garden Green, so I had to use Old Olive instead.)

 Here are the challenges:

You've gotta try this!  Grab a cup of coffee and I'll show you how!

To be totally honest (yes, I'm nerdy like that), this fabric flower went through several changes as the afternoon wore on.  I even had a different version adhered to the card and photos taken, before I went back to the drawing board.  (Photos have a way of being brutally honest about your creations!)  What had looked cool and shabby-chic in real life, just looked oversized and messy on camera, so I removed some more layers and tried again.  Finally, I had it just the way I wanted it and I knew it would be much easier for my classes to complete as well.

You'll notice that the flower is the scene-stealer here.  The rest of the card is CAS (clean and simple).  The sentiment is from Fabulous Florets stamp set and the DSP is from Parker's Patterns. 

 Here's what you'll need: The Floral Frames Framelits and a Big Shot.








You'll also need a 5 1/2"  square piece of Designer Essentials Fabric and a 7" square piece in a different design, but same colour.

 

Thread a needle with some white or cream thread, and find a designer button in a coordinating colour and some linen thread.

Here's the Step by Step Instructions - Just for You!

• Using the second and third smallest framelits, cut out 4 each of each size using differently designed fabrics.

• Fold each piece in half so that you have four full petals.

Right way








                                       Wrong way

• Fold in half again so you have a heart-shaped piece.

• Place all four pieces, folded in fourths, overlapping each other in a circle.

• Sew together with two or three stitches perpendicular to each other.

• Repeat these steps with with second group of four smaller pieces, then sew to the first layer with a couple of stitches.

• Add a button, or whatever you would like for a center.  You can sew on the button with another couple of stitches, or use glue dots for another type of center.

And that's all there is to it.   Give it a try!  And let me know what you create!

Stamps:  Fabulous Florets (w123025; c123027)

Paper:  Whisper White (100730) card stock; Parker's Patterns DSP (131021)

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Old Olive (126953)

Accessories:  Designer Buttons- Brights Collection (119747); Essentials Designer Fabric (126892); 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon in Daffodil Delight (125583); Linen Thread (104199)

Tools:  Floral Frames Framelits (127012); Big Shot (113419); Needle and thread